For the fifth year running, Penzance and the wider community will be taking part in the annual 16 Days of Activism Campaign. This important global movement, held from November 25th – December 10th, is coordinated locally by a grassroots group of survivors, supporters and activists, united in their shared commitment to end all violence against women and girls.
One in three women will experience violence in their lifetime, while every 10 minutes, somewhere in the world, a woman or a girl is intentionally killed by their partner or family members. It’s a shocking statistic. Joining thousands of organisations in 187 countries, 16 Days Penzance aims to raise awareness of the issues, share information, spark conversations, highlight the need for accountability and action, and help bring about real change.
This year’s 16 Days of Activism Penzance officially launches on Tuesday November 25th with a ‘pay as you feel’ day at Trelya Community Cafe – all proceeds going towards supporting women and girls. Then in the evening, it’s the Solidarity Walk and Vigil. Everyone is welcome – bring banners, torches, lights and feel free to wear orange, the international campaign’s colour. Setting off from Wherrytown Skatepark at 5.30pm, the walk culminates in a candlelit vigil at St Mary’s Church, Chapel Street, where the women in the UK who have lost their lives at the hands of their partner, former partner, or someone they know, in the past 12 months, will be remembered and honoured.
Hot soup and refreshments, courtesy of Whole Again Communities, will be available afterwards, together with lots of information about what to expect over the coming days. Organisers have put together an exciting and varied programme of events, including: walks, talks, music, film, poetry and spoken word, personal safety sessions, wellbeing opportunities, a photography exhibition, Distant Dance class, Manga workshop, coffee mornings, quizzes, a women’s open mic night, West Cornwall Women’s Aid Open Day and more.
After their sell-out show last year, the team that brought the groundbreaking Vagina Monologues to West Cornwall, returns for four more powerful performances (book early to avoid disappointment) while the final 16 Days wrap-up event, the All in It Together: Dancefloor Celebration, takes place on Friday December 12th. Hosted by the ALL IN DISCO DJs, at The Union Ballroom, expect some very special guest DJs and lots of positive vibes.
Full details of all events are listed on the 16 Days Penzance website: www.16dayspenzance.co.uk/
“Join us in sending out a clear message that such violence has no place in our society and must come to an end. 16 Days of Activism Penzance are grateful for the support of Penzance Council, and to everyone who stands alongside women as an ally, calls out harmful behaviour, challenges misogyny, has a conversation that matters, and helps shift attitudes. Together, we can help make our communities safer for women and girls.”
